^[1]Blink Wallet is a great solution to start accepting bitcoin and lightning payments in a physical shop. If you have a cafe, restaurant or any other brick-and-mortar type environment, blink has got you covered with their bitcoin merchant tools.

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

• Setting Up Blink POS for your Business
• Staff Guide For Bitcoin Payments with Blink POS
• How are Bitcoin Payments Taxed

What is Blink Wallet?What is Blink Wallet?

Blink is a Bitcoin wallet that makes sending and receiving Bitcoin as easy as sending a text message.

It uses the Lightning Network for instant, low-cost transactions anywhere in the world. You can hold money in two ways: a BTC account that follows Bitcoin’s value, or a USD account that stays stable like dollars.

Instead of complicated Bitcoin addresses, you simply send money using usernames (like @username), making it as simple as Venmo or Cash App.

Blink is available on iOS, Android, and App Gallery, and includes built-in tools for businesses like a POS (Cash Register) page that can easily be opened with a link; pay.blink.sv/username.

Whether you’re new to Bitcoin or have experience, Blink makes it easy and practical to use bitcoin for everyday payments, tips, or running a business.

Setting Up Blink POS for your BusinessSetting Up Blink POS for your Business

To use Blink Wallet as a business and easily accept payments, the wallet provides three solutions:

1. Lightning Cash Register (POS)
2. Printable Paycodes
3. API

Let’s get started with setting up the Lightning Cash Register.

1. Create Your Blink Account

• Download the Blink wallet app
• Sign up and accept the terms
• Choose your username in the settings
• IMPORTANT: Add a phone number and email in the settings for security.

2. Find Your POS Link

• Open the Blink app
• Tap the menu icon (top right corner)
• Go to “Ways to get paid”
• You’ll see your unique POS link: pay.blink.sv/username

This link can be opened on any device.

Using the POSUsing the POS

3. Access and Customize Your POS

• Open your POS link in any web browser
• Switch the currency to your local fiat currency
• Works on phones, tablets, or computers
• Add a shortcut to your phone, a staff member’s phone, a dedicated phone in your shop or your existing POS tablet. Payments received, will always end up in your wallet.
  
  Note: This is a critical step to ensure smooth workflows. Make sure staff members know how to find the shortcut and test before events.
  
  Different devices, browsers and operating systems may have call this setting a different name like “add to home screen” , “bookmark” or other. It can require a bit of research to find the right feature and add an icon/shortcut to the screen.

4. Accept Payments

• Staff or customer enters the payment amount
• A Lightning invoice is generated with a QR code
• Customer scans and pays with their Bitcoin wallet
• Payment goes directly into your Blink account
• A green checkmark appears upon completion

That’s it!

Now you can officially accept bitcoin payments.

For StaffFor Staff

5. Share with Employees

• Give your POS link to staff members
• They can accept payments on your behalf
• All payments go to your account only (staff cannot send money out)
• Great for servers, cashiers, or multiple locations

Key BenefitsKey Benefits

• Accept Bitcoin payments via Lightning Network
• No device lock-in – works on any browser
• Track all transactions for easy accounting
• Secure – employees can receive but never send funds
• Works for tips too – customers can send gratuities directly

That’s it!

Staff Guide For Bitcoin Payments with Blink POSStaff Guide For Bitcoin Payments with Blink POS

Your staff might be unfamiliar with bitcoin payments. That’s not a problem because it is not a big difference to existing payment flows.

Generally speaking, you can think of a bitcoin payment like a cash payment! Simply enter amount, create invoice and the customer pays – done.

All your staff needs to know is where they can find the POS link. Then they’re ready to process payments in four simple steps:

1. Close the customer’s tab or create bill in your existing POS software. Press “cash” as payment option (unless you have a specific option, speak with your accountant and POS provider). Now simply note or memorize the total amount to be paid.

2. Press the shortcut icon to open blink POS
(if it fails simply enter pay.blink.sv/youcoffeeshop in a browser

4. Enter amount to be paid and present QR to customer.

Once paid, the blink POS will show a green checkmark. That’s it the bill can be marked as paid and a receipt can be handed over.

Receiving Tips in BitcoinReceiving Tips in Bitcoin

Employees who would like to receive bitcoin tips can easily create their own blink username and present their paycode to customers.

How are Bitcoin Payments TaxedHow are Bitcoin Payments Taxed

Running a business with bitcoin opens new possibilities but can also introduce challenges. In most countries, including the United States, Bitcoin is treated as property rather than currency for tax purposes.

This means that when you receive Bitcoin as payment for goods or services, it’s considered taxable income based on its fair market value at the time you receive it.

When you later spend or sell that Bitcoin, you may owe capital gains tax if its value has increased, or you can claim a capital loss if it has decreased.

For businesses accepting Bitcoin payments, you must report the dollar value of the Bitcoin received as revenue, and keep detailed records of all transactions including dates, amounts, and values.

However, many accounting software solutions can already process bitcoin transactions. Speak to a tax advisor who is familiar with bitcoin retail payments.

The tax implications can vary significantly by country, so it’s important to consult with a tax professional familiar with bitcoin regulations in your jurisdiction to ensure compliance with local laws.

1. Published December 08, 2025 on https://lightning.news/blink-pos-in-shop-cafe-restaurant/ ↩